To support the mission and goals of the Nashville Public Library system through advocacy, voluntarism, promotion of public awareness, and financial support.

Leadership

CEO/Executive DirectorMs. Kristine LaLonde

Board ChairMs. Kristine LaLonde

Board Chair Company AffiliationCommunity Volunteer

History & Background

Year of Incorporation1983

Former Names

Friends of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County, Inc.

Organization's type of tax exempt status501-C3

Financial Summary

Graph: Expense Breakdown Graph - All Years

Projected Expenses$81,750.00

Projected Annual Revenue$102,750.00 (2016)

Statements

MissionTo support the mission and goals of the Nashville Public Library system through advocacy, voluntarism, promotion of public awareness, and financial support.

BackgroundFriends of Nashville Public Library is a grassroots organization that supports the work of the Nashville Public Library. Founded in 1983, Friends of NPL has played a key role in educating the city about the importance of its libraries. In addition to advocacy for libraries, Friends turns donation dollars into direct support for the library system by purchasing books and materials and other enhancements and by funding public programs for all ages. The organization is staffed and managed solely by volunteers, none of whom receive compensation for their services.

Impact

• Annually supports programs and services available to children, teens and adults at individual branch libraries

• Administers the memorial and honor gift book program

• Receives and administers gifts and grants to the Nashville Public Library system

Needs

Please visit our website, www.friendsofnashvillelibrary.org, for information on how to help and volunteer!

Other ways to donate, support, or volunteer

Donations by check may be made directly to Friends of Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219. Online donations may be made via GivingMatters.com or the Friends website, www.friendsofnashvillelibary.org.

Donations may be designated for use on behalf of a specific branch or location at the Main Library. Undesignated donations are used to fund general programs and services and operating expenses.

Memorial and/or honor donations are used to purchase a book or books to be placed in the library's collection. Donors may specify a branch or location at the Main Library to receive the book(s) and may designate a genre or author of particular interest to the deceased or honoree.

Friends of Nashville Public Library serves the Main Library and all 20 branches throughout Davidson County. From north to south, east to west, wherever there is a branch library, Friends are there to provide support. We are one strong tree with many branches, one community with many avenues for support and advocacy.

DescriptionFriends of NPL provides funding to support library programs throughout the branch library system celebrating Nashville's diverse cultural and artistic heritage and numerous other programs for patrons of all ages. Friends supports the annual Virtuoso Showcase classical guitar series which brings world-class artists from around the world to perform at Main; funds literary enhancements for the library system; and provides supplemental funding for Summer Challenge and other systemwide programs.

DescriptionFriends of NPL supports the Library's formal volunteer program by providing bus passes for volunteers who choose public transportation; through supplemental funding for volunteer recognition events and awards; and by participation in local volunteer networks.

DescriptionFriends of NPL annually supports the Library's Summer Challenge programs for children, teens and adults with supplemental funding for programs presented at branch libraries. This incentive-based program fosters a love of reading and retention of skills over the summer months for school children and teens, and provides entertaining programming for adults as well.

DescriptionFriends of NPL administers this valuable program for the library. Donors may send gifts by check or online in memory or honor of loved ones so that dedicated books may be placed on the library's shelves. The library chooses titles according to need, but the donor may specify the branch and the subject area for the memorial or honoree.

DescriptionFrom time to time, Friends of NPL will seek grants or gifts to meet a specific program or project need on behalf of the library system or a specific branch library project. Funds are then administered and managed by the Friends to meet the library's specific program goals.

Related Information

In a state in which 1 in 8 adults cannot read and the reading proficiency rate for third graders is under 50%, the educational importance of libraries cannot be understated. But the value of our Tennessee public libraries doesn't stop at education.

If you can read this, you can fill out an application, write a check, shop for groceries, read to a child, and understand the bus schedule. What if you couldn’t? On top of that, what would happen if you couldn’t speak English? Renting an apartment and going to the doctor would be come terrifying and overwhelming. 44 million adults in the United States are unable to even read a simple story to a child, and 1 out of 5 Nashville adults is functionally illiterate.